List of defaulters of bank and the correspondence regarding settlement reached with them

23 May, 2013

Background

The appellant filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the State Bank of India (SBI) seeking certified copies of various documents in respect of certain branch managers posted in a branch of the bank at Indore. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided point wise information to the appellant.

Proceedings

During the hearing the before Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant stated he had sought information about the list of defaulters and the correspondence which the Public Authority has had in this regard and the settlements reached along with note sheets and legal opinion obtained by the bank. The respondent stated that whatever information was available with them that have been provided. The respondent elaborated that the loans of Rs.5 crores and above are in the public domain in keeping with the banking guidelines. He further stated that the RTI application was vague and lacked specific issues in some of the queries as well it was of the presumptive and hypothetical nature. The appellant stated that the appellant’s invoking the exemption from disclosure clauses is on the basis of wrong interpretation of the law and that he expected the bank to provide complete information on the list of defaulters, correspondence and settlement. The respondent stated that the manner in which the bank addresses NPA issues involve an elaborate decision making process in which the bank uses their understanding to arrive at balanced conclusions on where to press for dues realization and where to go for OTS. The respondent stated that the confidentiality maintained is as per banking norms. The respondent also stated that the responses provided to the appellant are quite detailed and appropriate.

View of CIC

The Commission rejected the appeal observing that the reply of the respondent is in conformity with the RTI Act and there is no need to intervene in the matter.